Wheel clearance with Bilstein B6?

[smg1138]

@Racecomp Engineering Are there any particular springs that pair best with these shocks? I may eventually move back to a spring/shock combo when my coilovers are ready to be replaced. If I end up not getting them rebuilt anyway.

[churchx]

Spring choice .. imho just as with stock shocks, as B6 are marketed as OE damper replacement and thus should work sufficiently well with both stock springs and aftermarket ones that don't differ too drastically from them.
Imho RCE yellow springs that are slightly lower and slightly stiffer then stock should work well and seem popular/safe choice. Not option for me, as i don't wish for even slight lowering/ground clearance reduction, but many spoke well of RCE yellows.

[sygfrid]

I have B6 but with TRD lowering springs. Though Bilstein B6 is marketed as built with OEM quality standards, they are very much different from stock! B6 are gas pressured, while OEM's are oil-based.

If you'll use the B6 with the stock springs, you may notice that it may sit just a little higher. It's because the B6 is resisting the compression more than the stock shocks. If you're gonna install the B6 anyways, I highly suggest that you take advantage of the sprotiness of the TRD's in both handling & aesthetics that the mild drop of 1" that the TRD brings. Wheel-it -fit even says that there's plenty of suspension clearance if you drop by 1". Also, take advantage of the opportunity that you're working on your suspension as changing springs & dampers is not an easy task. This combo is quite stiff BUT not HARSH unlike the stock setup especially for daily driving. I can even say that it's more comfortable than stock even on uneven roads.

For my winters, I have the TRD 18x7.5J +35 w/ 225/40 on all 4's & they are -3mm from flush. I have recently bought a new set of 18x8.5J +45 that'll have 225/40 which, according to wheel-it-fit, will be -2mm from flush. I'll have the latter installed in the summer though so I can't verify the fitment. Nevertheless, IMO, you don't need spacers anymore as even at -3mm, it looks already flushed. Besides, adding spacers will add unsprung weight.

And wheel weight does matter!

I also have Enkei PF01 18x7.5 +x45 with 225/40 that weighs 17.65 lbs vs the TRD's 24 lbs, & I have tried them both for summers. Lifting them both alone, I can already notice the huge difference in weight (considering I've been lifting weights for 8 yrs now). Handling-wise the PF01 is more agile too & easier to accelerate.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Originally Posted by smg1138

@Racecomp Engineering Are there any particular springs that pair best with these shocks? I may eventually move back to a spring/shock combo when my coilovers are ready to be replaced. If I end up not getting them rebuilt anyway.

Biased of course but Bilstein B6 and RCE Yellows is one of my favorite all around set ups. It's a great street and light auto-x/track combo. Simple and fun.

Most springs work well including stock...milder drops almost always work better.

- Andrew

[ZDan]

Very very pleased with Bilstein B8s (same damping as B6, only difference is less droop travel) with Swift Spec-R springs, which have the same front rate as RCE Yellow and slightly stiffer rear rate. No lie, I think the damping for these springs is as good or better vs damping I had with Ohlins Road & Track on my FD RX-7. I highly highly recommend the Bilstein B6/B8 with RCE Yellows, and I think they'd be good with RCE Tarmacs as well. Or for more lowering, with Swift Sport or Spec-R springs.